The People in the Computer Box

Beth Ollifaunt went over to the window, to peer out upon the very pretty sight of Highgate – sure, Chloe had writ in her letters that 'twas entire a village upon the northern heights above Town – a deal of woods about, and 'twas no distance at all to the famed Hampstead Heath – and yet no trouble at all to get into Town, there were omnibuses –

O, this was an adventure! Mama had come to Beth upon her return from school remarking that the house was going to be a-bustle with election matters, very tiresome – the boys were not coming home yet from Meg’s – dear Agnes Lucas had offered that she might send the little ones to the rectory, quite the kindest thing – and here was Chloe suggesting that would it not be a prime thing for Beth to come stay with the Lowndes, that extended the warmest invitation, that she enclosed?

Well! One saw that poor Papa would be entire preoccupied over the business, and Mama sighed and said, election or not, the theatres still had to be managed, and likewise the manufactory –

A tap on the door and came in Chloe.

La, little sister, not properly unpacked yet?

Beth jumped. O, just, what is the phrase? orienting myself.

Chloe grinned and came over to point out various sights of interest. Then began to assist in the task of putting away things in the various presses, that smelt agreeably of lavender and cedarwood, whilst gossiping of family matters.

 This done, Chloe plumped down to sit upon the bed and pulled Beth down beside her. You know, of course, why Mama thinks it entirely best to have you away from Ollifaunt Hall?

Beth shook her head.

La, said her sister with a grin, 'tis because there will be a deal of tiresome old chaps about the place –

I know that!

– and you are just at that age when tiresome old chaps will go be about pinching cheeks and chucking under chins and maybe proceed to bestowing an uncle-some kiss or so, the wretched creatures, and during an election 'tis obligatory to be tactful to 'em and not stamp on their foot or thrust an elbow into their ribs –

Horrid beasts!

Chloe sighed. 'Tis not the like of a cricketing-party, when they may be asked to leave. No, in the interests of the nation, Mama and Papa must be civil. So go about to remove temptation. Well, my pet, now that I have conveyed you that enlightenment –

That certainly made Beth to consider over the behaviour of certain country neighbours!

– let us to the more agreeable task of going make civil to the Lowndes.

Sure 'twas some time since she had been in company with the Lowndes offspring – la, before the Ollifaunts had made their family voyage to the antipodes! – so was somewhat of a matter of becoming reacquainted.

And what she observed – mayhap had been too young to apprehend before? – was that, did the young Ollifaunts make a deal of theatre and plays, the young Lowndes were engaged in making family newspapers and magazines, and even had a small printing-press! Vaisey – Gervase – was editor-in-chief – now that Ferry goes to the college in Gower Street and also starts to learn the business – and his sisters Ella and Bessie and Alexi were the reporters – and Ella quite immediate began to quiz Beth so that she might write her up –

And Bessie offered that they might like to partake of their astronomical observations, for they had a very fine telescope mounted in an attic – for of course Mama is very noted for her pieces on what to look for in the skies –

And o, but they must have seen the Southern Cross!

There was lemonade brought – much nicer at this time o’year than tea – and cakes – and then, o, it was the most exceeding thing! a caller was announced and it was Uncle Josh!

That was quite the favourite of their uncles, even when he did not come bearing the offering of a visit to the Zoological Gardens. Even Chloe became most thrilled at this prospect, for being a Fellow of the Zoological Society, Uncle Josh had the entrée to places that the common public never saw.

Oh, there were a deal of excursions! There was going over to Highbury, where her brothers were staying with Auntie Meg, and seeing how they were and exchanging news, as well as reacquainting herself with the Knowles cousins. And there were Rosina and Elvira that took an opportunity to interrogate her a little in private over the Miss Barnards’ school – for they had a governess, and an array of visiting music teachers, and 'twas all very well, but here is Mama goes talk very fondly of her schooldays, and we wonder should we go petition to be sent there –

I daresay, sighed Elvira, we might keep up at least some of our music –

We have no complaints of Miss Hartingale, said Rosina, not precisely, but she seems entire delighted now that Frank is of an age for the schoolroom –

So Beth went boast a little upon the school, that was by no means about ladylike accomplishments but sound mental training, and was there girls wished to proceed to studying the classics or the higher mathematics, why, that could be arranged, just like drawing-lessons &C. They made envious groans.

There was also going to visit Uncle Quintus and Auntie Sukey that lived right in the centre of Town, just north of the bustle of Oxford Street – 'tis the coming-up area for the medical profession – and see how her rooftop garden came on.

It was a little of a disappointment that because Uncle Harry was obliged to go to Firlbrough about election matters they could not take a jaunt out to Blackheath.

But there were visits to the sights – to the theatre – and quite ecstasy! to call upon Miss Addington in her dressing-room – to the shops – O! so much that one might buy did one have the money!

One afternoon they were having a quiet day, and Beth was about inditing a letter to her parents when a caller was announced. They all looked up a little put about, for all had settled to various pursuits – writing up the family newspaper &C that had been a little neglected in the whirl of dissipation – but the mood entire changed when came in to the parlour Lady Bexbury.

She went over to kiss Beth and to apologize for not coming to welcome her to Town before – had to go into the country about various tiresome matters – but to make up for this neglect, why do you not come pass a few nights with me?

O, it surpassed everything! To be a guest in Auntie – great-aunt, she supposed – Clorinda’s pretty Mayfair house – so close to the Park – the fascinating bustle of the mews –

She looked at Chloe and Chloe nodded.

O, quite more than she could have hoped! And just mayhap, she could ask Auntie Clorinda about certain matters that she was anxious to do, but was not at all sure how to encompass.

That very nice woman,  the mother of her brothers’ friend Walter Frinton, had not only give her very good advice on how to arrange her collection of playbills, but had subsequently sent Beth the most elegant set of portfolios in which to keep 'em – 'tis a line this stationery company in which I have an interest is bringing out. And Beth wanted to know was there some way she might show her gratitude.

Auntie Clorinda thought this entirely proper – now, what you might give her, that is most out of the common, would be a couple of pots of Euphemia’s very exclusive preserves, that are not manufactured by Roberts and Wilson because the ingredients are rare – that only a favoured few are given – pineapple and ginger, and mulberry –

Then Leda Hacker said, how might it be that she took Beth a visit to the Johnson Agency? – after she had near expired with delight, Beth acceded to this charming plan.

Was introduced to Mr Johnson himself! that made most exceeding civil – and then was took to the filing-room, where Miss Frinton ruled, and they found her busy with Dickie Smith explaining the system –

Beth was in the greatest envy of Dickie Smith, that could not be that much older than she was, and employed in the agency. Miss Hacker beckoned him out, and Beth made a bob to Miss Frinton and said, was most exceeding grateful for those fine portfolios – the very thing for her playbill collection – and hoped Miss Frinton might like these exclusive jams –

Miss Frinton, colouring a little, declared that that was quite the kindest thing – she and Walter and her mother would greatly relish 'em – and mayhap Miss Elizabeth would care to see somewhat of her records?

Oh, bliss! Very educational instructive, and 'twas a delight to talk to one that had such very fine notions about keeping records, and about stationery, and oh, she did hope that once this tedious business of the election was done, Mama and Papa would invite the Frintons to Ollifaunt Hall again. Miss Frinton asked most proper about the family and their doings – heard somewhat from Walter of course –

Came in Leda Hacker with tea and biscuits.

O, cried Beth, la, I have stayed far too long – kept you from business –

They assured her 'twas a pleasure to have her company and to take tea afore departing.

The thing she had hardly dared to hope for – that she might go visit the famed actor Hywel Jenkins – Lady Bexbury took quite easily. La, I visit the poor fellow – you know he is now an invalid? – every month or so, convey him treats –

Here they were, a little out of Town – he was sitting by the window, and even now though he must be quite old, one might see why Mama remarked that he was quite the handsomest man she had ever set eyes upon –

And Beth recounted the family tale of being the Roman mob while he declaimed Friends, Romans and countrymen from the Raxdell House staircase.

So he turned a little, and smiled, saying, today was one of his better days, and gave the speech.

It was glorious.

O, Hywel! cried Auntie Clorinda with a little sob in her voice, then blowing her nose.